This LPIC-1 practice question tests your understanding of administrative tasks. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which configuration file is the primary configuration file for logrotate?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
/var/log/messages
Why wrong: A log file, not a configuration file.
/etc/logrotate.d/
Why wrong: This is a directory containing additional configuration snippets, not the primary file.
/etc/logrotate.conf
The main configuration file for logrotate.
/etc/rsyslog.conf
Why wrong: Configuration for rsyslog, not logrotate.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
/etc/logrotate.conf
The primary configuration file for logrotate is /etc/logrotate.conf. This file sets global options such as rotation frequency, compression, and the number of rotated logs to keep. It also includes configuration snippets from /etc/logrotate.d/ via an include directive, but the main control file is /etc/logrotate.conf.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
/var/log/messages
Why it's wrong here
A log file, not a configuration file.
/etc/logrotate.d/
Why it's wrong here
This is a directory containing additional configuration snippets, not the primary file.
/etc/logrotate.conf
Why this is correct
The main configuration file for logrotate.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
/etc/rsyslog.conf
Why it's wrong here
Configuration for rsyslog, not logrotate.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse the directory /etc/logrotate.d/ (which holds supplementary configs) with the primary configuration file /etc/logrotate.conf, or mistake /etc/rsyslog.conf (a logging daemon config) for logrotate's config.
Detailed technical explanation
Logrotate operates by reading /etc/logrotate.conf first, which sets default parameters like rotate count, compression (e.g., compress via gzip), and delaycompress. The include directive in logrotate.conf pulls in files from /etc/logrotate.d/, allowing per-service rules (e.g., for /var/log/nginx/*.log) without cluttering the main file. A subtle behavior is that logrotate uses a state file, typically /var/lib/logrotate/status, to track when each log was last rotated, preventing duplicate rotations on cron runs.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the LPIC-1 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Administrative Tasks — This question tests Administrative Tasks — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: /etc/logrotate.conf — The primary configuration file for logrotate is /etc/logrotate.conf. This file sets global options such as rotation frequency, compression, and the number of rotated logs to keep. It also includes configuration snippets from /etc/logrotate.d/ via an include directive, but the main control file is /etc/logrotate.conf.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
This LPIC-1 practice question is part of Courseiva's free LPI certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the LPIC-1 exam.
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